Wallet

ABSTRACT

The invention is wallets whose exterior is formed from a single, unitary sheet of a flexible material, like rubber, that includes a rubber tubular central body, a rigid support means lying within the tubular central body and adapted to impart its outer shape onto the tubular central body, a first lip attached to a lower portion of the front side of the rigid support means, a flap about the top portion of the tubular central body, which is devoid of the rigid support means and adapted to hang partially over at the front portion of the front side of the rigid support means.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to wallets and organizational means.

BACKGROUND

People carry money using various objects, including money-clips, bi-fold and tri-fold wallets, which all generally accomplish the same task. Money clips are compact and only organize cards or cash leaving other items loose in one's purse or pocket. Items that are left loose, such as coins or keys may damage other items in the pocket, such as a cell phone. Bi-fold and tri-fold wallets are great organizational devices but are bulky and unsightly. When used normally, wallets that are currently on the market tend have a short useful life, specifically because they fail at their seams, particularly around the zipper. Manufacturing these wallets is also costly. For these reasons, there is still a need for an improved wallet that has a long useful life, and that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

The wallets described herein are easy to manufacture, have no seams and have streamlined designs to avoid bulk.

SUMMARY

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by one embodiment of a wallet, which includes a tubular central body made of a flexible material, the tubular central body having an aperture therethrough, inner walls, outer walls, a rigid support means having a front side, a back side and an outer shape, the rigid support means lying within the aperture, contacting the inner walls of the tubular central body, the rigid support means adapted to impart its outer shape onto the tubular central body, at least one lip formed from the inner walls of the tubular central body, the at least one lip having a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge, the bottom edge, the right edge and the left edge fully integrated with a lower portion of the tubular central body, and a flap formed from the outer walls of tubular support means, the flap about a top portion of the tubular central body and fully integrated with a top portion of the tubular central body, the flap devoid of the rigid support means and adapted to hang partially over the top portion of the tubular central body. The tubular central body, lip and flap are formed of a single, unitary sheet of flexible material.

In another embodiment, the wallet includes a rubber tubular central body that includes an aperture therein, a rigid support means within a central portion of the aperture, and has a front side, a back side and an outer shape, the rigid support means is adapted to impart its outer shape onto the tubular central body, a first lip having a bottom edge, a right edge, and a left edge, the bottom edge, the right edge and the left edge of the lip fully integrated with a lower portion of the tubular central body; a second lip having a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge, the bottom edge, the right edge and the left edge fully integrated with a lower portion of the tubular central body; and a flap fully integrated with a top portion of the tubular central body, the flap devoid of the rigid support means and adapted to hang partially over at the front portion of the front side of the rigid support means, and wherein the flexible material comprising the tubular central body, lip and flap is a single, unitary sheet of rubber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood by referring to the following Figures. The components in the Figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the front of the wallet of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the back of one embodiment of the wallet of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cutout side view of one of the wallet of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the wallet of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The presently disclosed wallets and methods will be described more fully hereinafter. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The presently disclosed subject matter may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions.

Therefore, it is to be understood that the presently disclosed subject matter is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Wallet 10, and methods of making the same, are claimed and described herein. Wallet 10 comprises central tubular body 20 made from a single, unitary sheet of flexible material. As used herein, unitary means continuously connected without seams or the use of adhesives or any other connection means. Tubular central body 20 has an aperture 70 therethrough (illustrated in FIG. 4), which forms inner walls and outer walls. Tubular central body 20 is comprised of three general portions, a top portion, a lower portion and a central portion that is between the top and bottom portions. The central portion is generally disposed an equidistance between the top and lower portions of tubular central body 20. Rigid support means 40 is disposed within the aperture of central tubular body 20 roughly about the central portion of tubular central body 20. Rigid support means 40 is held into place by pressure exerted onto it by the inner wall of central tubular body 20. For that reason, the flexible material that forms central tubular body 20 must have sufficient strength and thickness to retain desired items, e.g. rigid support means 40 40, credit cards, cash and passports.

At least one lip 30 is formed from the inner walls of tubular central body 20. Lip 30 has a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge, which are each fully integrated with a lower portion of the tubular central body 20. As described in more detail herein, the bottom portion of central tubular body that does not include rigid support mean is folded toward the center of rigid support means 40 to form lip 30. The outer portion of lip 30 is formed from an inner portion of aperture 70. In various embodiments, wallet 10 comprises a second lip 50, which is formed in the same manner as lip 30. Both lips 30 and 50 are adapted to hold items, including, but not limited to credit cards, cash, and passports.

Flap 60 is formed from the outer walls of tubular central body 20. Flap 60 is positioned about the top portion of the tubular central body 20 and fully integrated therewith. Flap 60 is devoid of the rigid support means 40 and is adapted to hang partially over the top portion of tubular central body 20. To fulfill the objects of the invention, tubular central body 20, lip 30, lip 50 and flap 60 are all formed with a single, unitary sheet of flexible material. As such, manufacture of wallet 10 does not require sewing or the use of adhesives.

The flexible material employed may be any highly durable, flexible material that is flexible enough to hold desired items therein and maintain its shape when desired items are removed. Materials that are flexible, but do not have a memory or structure that enables them to return to their original form after use are not suitable for use in wallet 10. The flexible material must also be of a sufficient thickness to retain desired items therein. The flexible material must also be a material that is sturdy enough to maintain an intact structure after frequent bending and stretching. It is also preferred that the flexible material employed has a high coefficient of friction. Having a high coefficient of friction helps maintain the contents of the wallet inside without the use of zippers and other means for closure. The cards or other objects that are stored inside the wallet 10 are held inside by pressure exerted toward the center of the cards or items by the flexible materials when inside the wallet.

In one embodiment, the flexible material is rubber, or a rubber blend. In another embodiment, the flexible material is neoprene, or a blend comprising neoprene.

Referring to FIG. 2, and in one specific embodiment of the invention, wallet 10 comprises a second lip 50. Second lip 50 is integral to tubular central body 20 as it is formed from folding a lower portion of central body 20, which is not in direct contact with rigid support means 40 toward a central portion of central body 20. The outer portion of lip 50 is formed from an inner portion of aperture 70.

Wallet 10 is made, in one embodiment of the invention, by taking an intact, unitary tube made of the flexible materials described herein and cutting it to an appropriate length. As one skilled in the art would recognize, when sizing the invention to fit and organize rectangular items such as a passport, or credit card, the diameter of the rubber tube must be adjusted to be slightly shorter than the edge of the rectangle. Where a standard credit card wallet is desired, and in one embodiment of the invention, a tube of flexible material of about three inches in diameter is cut to approximately five inches in length.

Rigid support means 40 is then cut to about the same size as the object for which the organizer is tailored. For example, when sizing wallet 10 for a credit card, rigid support means 40 is cut roughly the same size as the credit card. Wallet 10 is assembled by sliding the cut tubing of flexible material over rigid support means 40 such that the long edges of rigid support means 40 are close to the opening of the cut tube of flexible material. Once rigid support means 40 is centered with in the aperture 70 of the tube, the overhanging flexible material on one side is stretched and folded outward to create at least one lip 30, and in specific embodiments lip 50. Flap 60 is formed by the overhang from the other side of the overhanging flexible material, which is not inverted or flipped.

As one skilled in the art would recognize, wallet 10 may be of any size. In a specific embodiment of the invention, wallet 10 is adapted to fit a standard credit card of 3⅜ inches wide and 2⅛ inches long. In other embodiments, wallet 10 is adapted and sized to fit a standard passport within its walls. To adjust the size of wallet 10, rigid support means 40 is cut to about the same size of the item wallet 10 is adapted to hold and the size of the flexible tube is adjusted as described herein. All other method steps are the same as described herein. 

That which is claimed:
 1. A wallet comprising: a tubular central body made of a flexible material, the tubular central body having an inner walls forming an aperture, outer walls, a top portion, a central portion and a lower portion; a rigid support means having a front side, a back side and an outer shape, the rigid support means lying within the aperture, contacting the inner walls of the tubular central body, the rigid support means adapted to impart its outer shape onto the tubular central body; at least one lip formed from the inner walls of the tubular central body, the at least one lip having a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge, the bottom edge, the right edge and the left edge fully integrated with a lower portion of the tubular central body; a flap formed from the outer walls of tubular support means, the flap about a top portion of the tubular central body and fully integrated with a top portion of the tubular central body, the flap devoid of the rigid support means and adapted to hang partially over the top portion of the tubular central body, wherein the tubular central body, lip and flap are formed of a single, unitary sheet of the flexible material.
 2. The wallet of claim 1 further comprising a second lip having a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge, the bottom edge, the right edge and the left edge of the lip attached to a lower portion of the back side of the rigid support means.
 3. The wallet of claim 1 wherein the rigid support means is about 3^(3/8) inches wide, 2^(1/8) inches in length.
 4. The wallet of claim 1 wherein the flexible material is rubber.
 5. The wallet of claim 1 wherein the rigid support means is a card.
 6. The wallet of claim 5 wherein the rigid support means is at least one of a metal card or a plastic card.
 7. The wallet of claim 5 wherein the rigid support means is about 3^(3/8) inches wide, 2^(1/8) inches in length.
 8. A wallet comprising: a rubber tubular central body, a rigid support means having a front side and a back side and an outer shape, the rigid support means lying within the tubular central body and adapted to impart its outer shape onto the tubular central body; a first lip having a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge, the bottom edge, the right edge and the left edge of the lip attached to a lower portion of the front side of the rigid support means; a second lip having a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge, the bottom edge, the right edge and the left edge of the lip attached to a lower portion of the back side of the rigid support means; and a flap about the top portion of the tubular central body, the flap devoid of the rigid support means and adapted to hang partially over at the front portion of the front side of the rigid support means, wherein the rigid support means is about 3^(3/8) inches wide, 2^(1/8) inches in length, and wherein the flexible material comprising the tubular central body, lip and flap is a single, unitary sheet of rubber. 